Background: Maintaining a small old town as a tourist destination is one of the Malaysian government steps to achieve sustainable tourism. Sustainability of a tourist destination depends on the town’s strength, history, culture, and attractions.
Aim: This study set out to investigate Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) town’s key strengths and characteristics for sustainable tourism development.
Method: Kuala Kubu Bharu is a small town located in Selangor, Malaysia. A qualitative approach was used to collect data through semi-structured interviews. The sample involved nine participants aged between 20 to 65 years old, who are familiar with KKB town.
Result: The four key strengths of KKB for sustainable tourism development are the town’s features, neighbourhood, eco-activities, and historical architecture.
Discussion: KKB town has the potential to remain a tourist destination in Malaysia. The sustainable tourism developments in KKB town can be accomplished if all the current key strengths and town features and characteristics are well maintained by the local communities and the Malaysian government.
Ballantyne, R., Packer, J., & Hughes, K. (2009). Tourists' support for conservation messages and sustainable management practices in wildlife tourism experiences. Tourism management, 30(5), 658-664.
Benur, A. M., & Bramwell, B. (2015). Tourism product development and product diversification in destinations. Tourism Management, 50, 213-224. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2015.02.005
Birdir, S. S. (2015). Segmentation of tourists using demographic and travel characteristics: the case of Istanbul. International Review of Management and Marketing, 5, 221-22
Burbano, D. V., Valdivieso, J. C., Izurieta, J. C., Meredith, T. C., & Ferri, D. Q. (2022). “Rethink and reset” tourism in the Galapagos Islands: Stakeholders' views on the sustainability of tourism development. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 3(2), 100057.
D’Mello, C., Chang, L-Ch., Pillai, S. K. B., Kamat, K., Zimmermann, F. M., & Weiermair, K. (2016). Comparison of Multi-Stakeholder Perception of Tourism Sustainability in Goa. International Journal of hospitality & Tourism Systems, 9. 1-13.
Erol, I., Neuhofer, I. O., Dogru, T., Oztel, A., Searcy, C., & Yorulmaz, A. C. (2022). Improving sustainability in the tourism industry through blockchain technology: Challenges and opportunities. Tourism Management, 93, 104628.
Gonzalez, C. S. (2008). Alternative Development in Colombia: The practice and theory of alternative development programmes.
Hall, C. M. (2019). Constructing sustainable tourism development: The 2030 agenda and the managerial ecology of sustainable tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 1–17. doi:10.1080/09669582.2018.1560456
Hasana, U., Swain, S. K., & George, B. (2022). A bibliometric analysis of ecotourism: A safeguard strategy in protected areas. Regional Sustainability, 3 (1), pp. 27-40.
Kapera, I. (2018). Sustainable tourism development efforts by local governments in Poland. Sustainable Cities and Society, (), S2210670717314725–. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2018.05.001
Lee, T. H. (2013). Influence analysis of community resident support for sustainable tourism development. Tourism Management, 34, 37–46. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2012.03.007
Li, J., Wong, I., & Kim, W. (2016). Re-segmenting a gaming destination market: A fresh look at Mainland Chinese tourists in Macau. Journal of Vacation Marketing.
Liu, J., Nijkamp, P., Huang, X., & Lin, D. (2017). Urban livability and tourism development in China: Analysis of sustainable development by means of spatial panel data. Habitant International, 68, 99-107.
Lim, E. (2020). A Visit to Kuala Kubu Bharu. In K. B. Kasim, K. Loh, M. Kaur, M. Isa, M. J. Haron, R. Gan, & R. Abdullah, Muzings (pp. 8 - 11). Department of Museums Malaysia.
Melo, S. R. S., Silva, M. E., Melo, F. V. S., & Vo-Thanh, T. (2022). The practice of (un) sustainable tourism in a National Park: An empirical study focusing on structural elements. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 39, 100548.
Gao, J., Shao, C., Chen, S., & Wei, Z. (2021). Evaluation of Sustainable Development of Tourism Cities Based on SDGs and Tourism Competitiveness Index: Analysis of 221 Prefecture-Level Cities in China. Sustainability, 13(22), 12338. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su132212338
Gnanapala, A. C., & Karunathilaka, T. P. (2016). Community perception on tourism development and its impacts: a study on Passikudha, Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 164-178
Hirschmann, R. (2021). Statista. Retrieved from Travel and tourism in Malaysia - statistics & facts: https://www.statista.com/topics/5741/travel-and-tourism-in-malaysia/National Tourism Policy 2020 - 2030 - Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia (pmo.gov.my)
Ng, S. I., Chia, K. W., Ho, J. A., & Ramachandran, S. (2017). Seeking tourism sustainability – A case study of Tioman Island, Malaysia. Tourism Management, 58(), 101–107. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2016.10.007
Pieterse, J. N. (1998). My paradigm or yours? Alternative development, post?development, reflexive development. Development and change, 29(2), 343-373.
Powe, N. A., & Hart, T. (2008). Market towns: understanding and maintaining functionality. The Town Planning Review, 347-370.
Rasoolimanesh, S. M., & Jaafar, M. (2017). Sustainable tourism development and residents’ perceptions in World Heritage Site destinations. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 22(1), 34-48.
Sarttatat, I. (2010). Conservation and Sustainable Tourism in Sap Cham Pa Archaeological Site and Cham Pi Sirindhorn Forest. A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy, Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism (International Program), Graduate School, Silpakorn University.
Scerri, M., Edwards, D., and Foley, C. (2016). The value of architecture to tourism. The Value of Architecture to Tourism.
Sharpley, R. (2014). Host perceptions of tourism: A review of the research. Tourism Management, 42, 37-49. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2013.10.007
Taecharungroj, V., Muthuta, M., & Boonchaiyapruek, P. (2019). Sustainability as a place brand position: a resident-centric analysis of the ten towns in the vicinity of Bangkok. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy. doi:10.1057/s41254-019-00127-5
Thompson, B. S. (2022). Ecotourism anywhere? The lure of ecotourism and the need to scrutinize the potential competitiveness of ecotourism developments. Tourism Management, 92, 104568.
United Nations World Tourism Organization. (n.d). Sustainable Development. Retrieved on January 12, 2023, from https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development.
United Nation. (2016). The Sustainable Development Agenda.
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda-retired/
Varolgunes, F. K., Celik, F., Del Rio, M. D. L. C., & Alvarez-Garcia, J. (2022). Reassessment of sustainable rural tourism strategies after COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology, 13.
Yorganci, I., & Emin, E. (2022). How to unlock the benefits of ecotourism: a case study of Karpaz, North Cyprus. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, (ahead-of-print).